Reborn as a tycoon in Hong Kong

On Friday night, Lin Baicheng attended a dinner at an estate in Washington.

The dinner is hosted by the Republican Party, and all supporters of the Republican Party are invited, and only those with a certain level of wealth or influence will be invited to attend. The top leaders and backbone members of the Republican Party will all come tonight.

Here, Lin Baicheng communicates with many politicians as a major donor.

Because they were born again, Lin Baicheng had the most exchanges with Wilson Reagan. Who made Reagan the next president? He was even willing to make a political donation of US$1 million to support Reagan's candidacy for the next president, and hinted that he would promote his campaign policies to the employees of his companies, so that they would support him as much as possible.

In addition to Wilson Reagan, Lin Baicheng also chatted with George Bush for a long time, and also expressed his support for George Bush to run for vice president in this mid-term election and was willing to pay US$500,000 in political donations for this purpose.

Not to mention US$1 million and US$500,000, Lin Baicheng can also spend several times or even dozens of times of funds, but this is not how political donations are given. Spending too much money will only become bribery, not legitimate politics. Donate money.

And to put it bluntly, if spending money alone can determine who is the president, Lin Baicheng’s capital is incomparable to that of consortiums in the United States. They are much richer than him, so there is no room for him to participate.

American elections require the votes of voters, and political donations are used for publicity. Therefore, politicians participating in elections sometimes do not need political donations from big companies, as long as big companies support the politicians.

Lin Baicheng is rich and has many employees in the companies under his name. The Republican Party does not mind that he is a foreigner. His skin color is also ignored by the Republican Party. In the eyes of the Republican Party, he is one of the party's strong supporters.

Among the many Republican politicians at the dinner, the reason why Lin Baicheng strongly supported Wilson Reagan and George Bush was because Lin Baicheng knew that they were both future presidents, so he was very happy to make friends with them and have good relations with them.

Especially George Bush. If Lin Baicheng remembers correctly, George Bush is the elder Bush, and his son George W. Bush will also become the president of the United States in the future. Now that he has made friends with the elder Bush, he will definitely make friends with the younger Bush in the future, which is equivalent to making friends with two presidents at once.

Although becoming a friend of the president does not mean that you can do whatever you want in the United States. After all, the president himself cannot do whatever you want in the United States, let alone just a friend of the president.

However, there are definitely benefits to being a friend of the president. If you support the other party to become president, the other party will pay you in disguise after becoming president, as long as it is not too excessive. This is an unspoken rule of Western politics. Politicians must repay their donors.

In addition, if you become a friend of the president, if something happens to you or your company, you will at least be able to find someone to help you. You will have to pay a different price depending on the severity of the matter, but it is better than not being able to find a way out.

It's a pity that Lin Baicheng is from Xiangjiang and a foreigner. Otherwise, just because he knows who will become the president of the United States in the next few decades, the benefits he can derive from it will definitely not be a little bit. If he supports several presidents, he will definitely develop A big consortium is coming.

As a foreigner, Lin Baicheng's benefits from American politics are limited, so he is not prepared to pay too much, both in terms of money and communication.

During this political dinner, Lin Baicheng was able to deepen his ties with Wilson Reagan and George Bush and become so-called 'friends', which was already a full harvest for Lin Baicheng.

The day after the dinner, Lin Baicheng went back to Los Angeles and did not stay in Washington.

On weekends, Lin Baicheng was not as busy as on weekdays. He took Lin Qin, Deng Lijun and Lin Qingxia to the beach in Hawaii.

Among the few, Lin Qin played the craziest, wildest and most happily.

After the four of them were tired from playing, they went to rest under the umbrella.

"Baicheng, can I ask you a favor?"

The four chatted for a while, and when Lin Qin went surfing again, Lin Qingxia suddenly said to Lin Baicheng.

"You tell me what it is first, as long as I can do it."

Lin Baicheng nodded slightly. Although he liked Lin Qingxia very much and wanted the beauty to have a good impression of him, he did not do everything. If you agree but fail to deliver, it will not only be embarrassing, but it will also easily lead to a lower evaluation.

"Here's the thing."

Lin Qingxia said aloud: "I have a friend, her name is Zhang Aijia. She and several friends established the Bigo Film Company. Now they are planning to shoot a movie in Hong Kong, hoping that the movie can be released at the Star Cinema. She knows that I and You are a friend, so please ask me to ask you for help so that their movie can be screened in Star Cinema when it is ready to be released."

Star Cinema is currently the largest theater chain in Hong Kong. It cannot even compete with Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest. In addition, the box office share given to the production company is relatively high. Therefore, the production companies hope to cooperate with Star Cinema to get the film. Screening at Star Cinema.

Lin Baicheng did not answer immediately after hearing this, but asked: "Is the Zhang Aijia you are talking about the actress from Wandao?"

"Um!"

Lin Qingxia nodded: "She came to Hong Kong to make movies in 1972. She and I met when we made a movie together the year before last."

"I know her. I've seen her movies."

Lin Baicheng nodded slightly, but what she had seen was not the movie that Zhang Aijia has made now, but the Best Partner series that she co-produced with Xu Guangjie and Ma Jia in the 1980s before her rebirth. Zhang Aijia is the man-woman policeman in this series of movies. , an absolute heroine.

Lin Qingxia asked: "What about the release of their company's movie?"

"I can promise you to let their films be screened in Star Cinema when the time comes, but the specific screening time and number of screens will depend on whether the market likes it or not. If the box office was very poor in the past few days, then their films will be released within a few days. I won't give them too much preferential treatment if they are willing to move down the gears. Please ask them if they can accept such conditions."

After all, they are just friends of Lin Qingxia, and not Lin Qingxia's own film company, so Lin Baicheng is not prepared to give preferential treatment to Zhang Aijia's company. Being able to let their movies be released without looking at the quality of the movies is already because of Lin Qingxia. Save face.

"This is what it should be. If Aijia and the others can't accept it, then forget it."

When Lin Qingxia heard this, she didn't think there was anything wrong. It was unreasonable for cinemas to keep showing movies when the box office was so poor. She asked Lin Baicheng for help. It was impossible for Lin Baicheng's theater chain to lose money by showing the film. She couldn't say this.

Lin Baicheng asked casually: "By the way, what's the name of the movie? Who are the director and starring actors?"

"The movie hasn't started shooting yet, but the script has been written. It's temporarily called "Crazy Heist". I don't know if the name will be changed after the movie is finished."

Lin Qingxia answered aloud: "As for the director and starring role, I only know that the director is a new female director named Xu Anhua. Ai Jia is the second female lead in the film. The first female lead was originally approached by Zhao Yazhi, but was rejected, and then chose I chose Mi Chong; I chose Zhou Runfa as the male lead, and he is now at the peak of his popularity."

"Xu Anhua?"

Lin Baicheng was moved when he heard this. He knew that this person was a relatively famous female director in Hong Kong in the 1980s and 1990s. She was still active in the film industry even after entering the 21st century.

As for Zhou Runfa's entry into the film industry, Lin Baicheng paid no attention to it. Anyway, it would not affect Zhou Runfa's future filming for Star Pictures.

After Lin Baicheng agreed to help, he and Lin Qingxia stopped talking about the movie "Crazy Heist" and talked about other things with Deng Lijun.

The two days of play time passed quickly.

With the arrival of a new working week, Lin Baicheng continued to devote himself to busy work.

On Tuesday, Lin Baicheng went to Marvel Comics.

Lin Baicheng did not go to Marvel Comics for a surprise inspection. He contacted Stan Lee in advance before going there, so when he arrived, Stan Lee led the management to welcome him.

Lin Baicheng first went to the conference room with Stan Lee and others to listen to their reports on the company's current situation and the changes after its acquisition by him.

The biggest change in Marvel Comics is that comic stores began to operate on their own. It has been half a year since Marvel Comics was acquired. The company initially operated self-operated comic stores in major cities. So far, this decision is correct and has improved the comic book store. Marvel Comics' revenue and profits.

Of course, in just half a year, it is impossible for Marvel Comics to operate all channels on its own, so self-operated channels will continue to expand.

Lin Baicheng first expressed his affirmation of the management's work over the past six months, and then encouraged them to continue their efforts.

More than half an hour later, Lin Baicheng announced the adjournment of the meeting and asked the management to leave first, leaving Stan Lee behind.

"Come on Stan, take me to see the "Transformers" creative team."

"Chairman, please follow me."

Stan Lee responded and led the way.

The "Transformers" comic was one of the three comic ideas Lin Baicheng originally gave to Japan's Zhiyin Comics Publishing Company. There is a reason why Marvel Comics also created "Transformers".

First of all, Lin Baicheng is interested in the toy market of "Transformers", and the comics and future animated adaptations are just promotional tools.

If you want to sell Transformers toys, you must not give up the market in the United States and Western countries. Then the problem arises. The possibility that the Japanese version of the "Transformers" comics and animation will not be adapted to the American environment is not small. For example, it is extremely famous in Japan. Godzilla won’t do well in the United States.

Originally, before acquiring Marvel Comics, Lin Baicheng didn't think much about it. After acquiring Marvel Comics at the beginning of the year, he thought that since there is a comic company in the United States, why not create an American version of "Transformers"?

No matter what, the American version of "Transformers" will definitely have a better publicity effect and pave the way for future toy sales.

That's right, Transformers toys haven't been developed yet, they're just for preliminary publicity.

In May, Lin Baicheng asked Marvel Comics to obtain the adaptation rights from Zhiyin Comics, and then asked Stan Lee to arrange for people to create the American version of "Transformers". Now it has been two or three months of creation, and Lin Baicheng happens to be in the United States. , so come and take a look before the comic is officially released.

Not long after, Lin Baicheng met the creative team of the American version of "Transformers", but he didn't know any of them anyway.

The story outline of the first phase of the American version of "Transformers" has been finalized, and the creative team has drawn 8 episodes. Lin Baicheng is watching it very seriously.

In terms of plot outline, the difference between the Japanese version and the American version is not very big, but when it comes to plot development, there is still a big difference. Mainly because the cultures of the two countries are different, so the way the comic content is expressed is naturally different. .

The current sales of the Japanese version of "Transformers" in Japan are pretty good, and it has many loyal fans. As for the performance of the American version of "Transformers" after its release, Lin Baicheng cannot judge at present, because he has a deep understanding of American culture and comics. The market cannot be said to be understood.

"Stan, I think you have watched "Transformers", right?"

"Of course, I've seen it all."

Stan Lee nodded. As the CEO, he could not know about a new comic that the company was going to publish, but when the comic was personally requested by the boss, then he had to know about it. If he didn't even have this bit of emotional intelligence, he wouldn't be able to hold the position of CEO.

"So, do you think "Transformers" will be recognized by the market?"

"Chairman, it's hard to say. Although I have been in this industry all my life, the market is unpredictable and no one can be sure. After all, "Transformers" is a brand-new work, and the creator is not a master in the industry, so all of a sudden It’s unlikely that it will become a hit. If it reaches a certain audience at the beginning, it will actually be considered a success.”

Stan Lee did not dare to say too much, lest the sales results would be poor and the blame would be placed on him.

Lin Baicheng couldn't help but nodded slightly when he heard this: "Remember to put more of the company's resources towards this comic and give it better publicity and layout, so that comic fans can have more time to read this comic."

"I will arrange it, Chairman."

Stan Lee nodded in understanding.

Lin Baicheng continued: "If the initial response to this comic is mediocre, don't give up on it immediately, or provide more resource support, or ask the creative team to change the style or plot. Anyway, we must find a way to make " "Transformers" will survive until the creation achieves results."

Stan Lee responded: "Chairman, I understand what you mean. If the existing creative team continues to be unable to achieve results, I will change the team."

"Well, you have to look at the specific arrangements. I just want the results."

Lin Baicheng had no objection to this, as long as he could achieve results, he didn't care who did it.

Lin Baicheng did not express his opinion on the American version of "Transformers". He does not know whether the current comic can be recognized by the market. What he can do is to provide more support for the comic in terms of resources, that's all.

It was a rare visit to Marvel Comics. After Lin Baicheng and Stan Lee left the place where the "Transformers" team created, they asked Stan Lee to take him to see where other artists created, which was regarded as an inspection.